Package wrapping machine



Oct 1955 R. R. BRIGHTWELL PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet l NR RN lllll Filed July 26, 1954 Oct. 18, 1955 R. R. BRIGHTWELL PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE 3 SheetsSheet 2 Filed July 26, 1954 Oct. 18, 1955 R BR|GHTWELL 2,720,738

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 26, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jun I t t ti Hii[ I United States Patent 1 2,720,738 PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Robert R. Brightwell, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Stephano Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvama Application July 26, 1954, Serial No. 445,610 Claims. (Cl. 53-61) The present invention relates to a package wrapping machine and more particularly to a machine for wrapping cigarette packages with cellophane and the like.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel machine for placing the cellophane or other wrapping material around the package, sealing it in place, and sealing the end flaps of the wrapper together at the opposite ends of the package.

The invention further contemplates a machine having greatly simplified mechanical details and which is fully efiective in operation and use.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features and details of the construction and operation thereof are more fully set forth hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan showing the placement of the wrapping material around the package at the first station of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the position of the package at the second station of the apparatus before operation of the mechanism at the second station;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the position of the elements after the free side edges of the wrapping material have been overlapped on the package;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end elevational view showing the operation of the mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the apparatus at the fourth station thereof prior to the operation of the device at the fourth station;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the position of the elements after operation of the device at the fourth station;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through the discharge end of the apparatus showing the folding of the top and bottom marginal portions of the Wrapper; and,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the finished wrapped package.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 2 thereof, the unwrapped packages are advanced to the Wrapping machine on a feed table 11. An abutment 12 is provided to stop the packages P at the first station of the wrapping machine. At this first station, the packages P are inserted between the gripper fingers 25 of a rotary conveyor 13, and at the same time, a piece of cellophane or other wrapping material W is placed around the package with the free edges of the cellophane projecting radially outward from the conveyor 13.

The conveyor is then indexed 90 and the package is positioned at the second station of the wrapping machine. At this station of the machine, the trailing free edge of the cellophane is tucked against the corresponding edge of the package, and the opposite edge is applied with a solvent and is slit at the opposite sides of a tear-tape which is affixed to the wrapping material adjacent its upper margin.

The conveyor 13 is then indexed again and the package P is moved to the third station of the wrapping machine. During the movement from the second to the third station, the leading side edge which has had solvent applied thereto, is folded against the trailing side edge of the wrapping material which is folded at the second station. When the package reaches the third station, heat is applied along 2,720,738 Patented Oct. 18, 1955 the overlapping edges to cause the solvent to effect adherence of the two side edges.

The conveyor is again indexed to bring the package to the fourth station where an ejector mechanism withdraws the package from the conveyor 13 and effects folding of the top and bottom ends of the package wrapping. As will be described more fully hereinafter, the trailing and leading flaps of both the upwardly and downwardly projecting end portions of the Wrapping material are folded flat against the upper and lower end portions of the package. One side flap is then folded down against the package, a solvent is applied, and then the other side flap is folded on top of the previously folded side flap. As the package advances, heat is applied to the top and bottom ends thereof to seal the wrapping material in place.

Thus, when the package leaves the machine, it is fully wrapped as indicated in Fig, 9, having its top and bottom portions and its side portions sealed. In addition, the wrapper W is provided with a tear-tape having slits adjacent each of its opposite sides to facilitate starting of the tearing operation.

The wrapping material W is placed around the package at the first station of the wrapping machine (see Figs. 1 and 2). To this end, as the packages P are advanced on the feed table 11, a sheet of wrapping material is positioned between the spaced guide plates 29 and 21. The wrapping material W is fed over a roll 22 positioned above the guide plates 20 and 21, the material having tear-tapes 47 positioned transversely thereof at spaced intervals along its length. in the wrapped packages, as shown in Fig. 10, the tear-tape appears adjacent the upper margin of the package.

When the packages P are in position on the feed table 11 and the wrapping material W is in place between the guide plates 24 and 21, a plunger 23 is actuated to advance a package P through the openings 24 in the guide plates and cause the package to engage the wrapping material and carry it between the grippers 25 of the rotary conveyor 13. The grippers 25 are spring-biased together to firmly hold the package P therebetween. The guide plate 20 is provided with flexible flaps 26, 26 adjacent the opening 24 which insure that the wrapping material W is firmly wrapped around the package P.

When the plunger 23 has completed its advance, the package P is in place between the grippers 25, 25 and the wrapping material W extends radially outward therefrom as indicated in Fig. 3. The conveyor 13 is then indexed so that the package is advanced to the second station. At this station, the leading edge 27 of the wrapping material bears against a backing plate 28 and the trailing edge 29 projects outwardly as shown in Fig. 4.

At the second station of the wrapping machine, the trailing edge 29 is folded against the side edge of the package P, the leading edge 27 is slit at opposite sides of the tear-tape and a solvent is applied to the exposed surface of the edge 29. To effect these results, a shaft 32 is positioned adjacent the second station of the conveyor 13. The shaft 32 is driven, for example, by a quadrant and pinion indicated generally at 33 which in turn is controlled by a cam 34. The solvent is applied and the slits are made by an arm 35 mounted on the shaft 32 for rotation therewith. The folding of the trailing edge 29, on the other hand, is effected by a folding plate 36 which is mounted on a collar 37 rotatably mounted on the shaft 32. Thus, both the arm 35 and the plate 36 pivot about an axis coaxial with the shaft 32.

The folding plate 36 is actuated simultaneously with the arm 35. To this end, a spring 33 is tensioned between the folding plate 36 and outwardly projecting leg 39 on the arm 35. Thus, the plate 36 is biased toward the arm 35, its inward limit position being determined by a stop member 41 fixed on the plate 36 positioned to engage the arm 35, for example as. shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It should. be noted, however, that the plate 36 is free to be angularly displaced from the arm 35 when a force is applied to the former which is in excess of the spring forcesupplied by the spring 38. This outward displacement is effected by engagement of a finger 43 on the plate against the gripper 25 of the conveyor 13 (see Fig. 2)

V In the operation of the mechanism, at the second station of the wrapping machine, when the conveyor 13 has been properly indexed to the position shown in Fig. 2, the shaft 32 is rotated clockwise. The clockwise rotation of the shaft 32 advances the arm 35 toward the backing plate 28; Advancement of the arm carries the folding plate 36 into engagement with the trailing edge 29 of the wrapper Further clockwise rotation of the folding plate 36 folds theedge 29 against the side edge of the package P, and out of the path of movement of the arm 35'. The arm 35 and the folding plate 36 continue their clockwise rotation until the latter is stopped by engagement of the finger 43 with the gripper 25. The arm 35, however, continues its advance into engagement with the backing plate 28 and the leading edge 27 which is positioned thereagainst. The arm' 35 has mounted on its outer extremity a wick 45 of resilient flexible material. The wick is supplied with a solvent or other suitable sealant from a supply indicated at 46 in Fig. 2; Thus, as the arm 35 advances toward the edge 27, the wick 45 engages against the exposed face of the edge and applies solvent thereto.

During this operation, the arm 35 also makes slits in the edge 27 at opposite sides of the tear-tape 47 which has been applied to the wrapping material W before its advancement between the guide plates 20 and 21. To effect slitting of the wrapper, the backing plate 28 has mounted thereon a pair of spaced knives 48, 48 (see Fig. 6'). The knives 48 project beyond the backing plate 28 so that when the resilient flexible wick 45 engages against the backing plate, the knives 48 are embedded into the wick, causing severance of the wrapper at opposite sides ofthe tear-tape 47. Thus, at the second station of the wrapping machine, the edge 29 is folded against the package P and the edge 27 is coated with a solvent and is slit as. indicated.

Indexing of the conveyor 13 to the'next station folds the leading edge 27' against the exposed side edge of the package. To this end, the quadrant 33 is retracted upon further actuation of the conveyor 13. The latter movement of thequadrant is not suflicient to withdraw the arm 35' completely away from the backing plate, but only withdraws it sufficiently to free the edge 29 from engagement therewith; This position is shown in Fig. 5. As the conveyor 13 is indexed, the folding plate 36 is free to followthe movement of the conveyor to insure that the edge 29 is tucked under the edge 27 which is folded bythe interior edge portion of the backing plate 28. The edge of the backing plate 28v is contiguous with a holddown plate 50 which conforms to the arcuate path of the outer side edge of the package P as it travels from the second station to the third station of the package wrapping machine Thus, the plate 50" retains the flap 27.. in overlapping relation to the flap 29, and holds the flap 27 in. pressure contact with the flap 29 until the package attainsthe third station of the wrapping machine.

At the third station of the wrapping machine, heat is applied to the exposed side edge of the package to seal the'flap'29 to the flap 27. To this end, a heating element 51- (see ;,F-ig. 2), is positioned to. engage the side edge of jthe package and seal the flaps together. It is noted that the heating element is confined to the third station so. that heat is not applied during the travel of the package ,from the second to the third station. This insures that the heat. is applied for only the time necessary to perform the sealing operation, and there is little chance of the heat scorching the wrapping material, such as might be occasioned if heatwere applied during its com- 4 plete travel from the second station to the third station. Thus, the side edge of the package is properly sealed before the conveyor 13 is indexed to the fourth station of the wrapping machine. v j

At the fourth station, the package is ejected from the gripper elements 15, of the conveyor 13, and the top and bottom' marginal portions of the wrapper are folded against the top and bottom end 'of the package. When the package reaches the fourth station, the top and bottom marginal portions are projecting vertically upwardly and downwardly from the package. The marginal portions form an open four-sided structure consisting of leading and trailing flaps 55 and 56, respectively, and longitudinal side flaps 57 and 58 (seelFig. l0) V Ejectionof he package from the grippers causes the leading and trailing flaps 55 and 56 to be folded against the top of the package, and subsequent travelthrough the folding device 60 efiects successive folding of the side flaps 58 and 57. To accomplish this, the ejector 61 is mounted for sliding movement upon the folding device 60. The ejector engages behind the package P and draws or pulls it into the folding device. A hold-down lip 62 is provided adjacent the top and bottom of the device to en age the flaps 55 and fold the same against the 'top of the package P as shown in Fig. 9. With reference to Figs. 1 and 9 it is shown that the ejector element 61 projects from the folding device 60 forwardly toward the conveyor 13 and has a laterally projecting arm 63 which passes between the gripper arms 25, 25 and engages the package P to effect withdrawal of the same from the conveyor 13. V

Means is provided on the ejector 61 to fold the trailing flap 56 of the wrapper W. The flap-folding means consists of a fold plate 64 slidably mounted on the ejector 61 for relative longitudinal movement therewith. The plate 64; is biased forwardly by a spring 65 so as to maintain the plate in advance of the pusher arm 63 upon withdrawal of thev package. Thus, the plate 64 engages the trailing flap 56v and folds it down against the top of the package P. prior to the engagement of the arm 63 with the package. Upon engagement of the arm with the package, the package is displaced outwardly of the conveyor. The plate 64 follows the movement and maintains the, flap. 56- against the package. mined advance, the plate 64 engages against the member 62. to stop the movement of the former, the arm con- I tinuing its leftward traverse as seenin Fig. 8.

Themembcr 62 is spaced inwardly from the side walls 66, 66 of'the folding unit so that the side flaps 57 and 58 are free to pass between the plate 62 and the side walls 66. (see Figs, 2, 7, and 8). A folding'plate 67 engages. the flap 58 to fold it against the top. of the package as the package P is advanced under the same; Asshown in Fig. 2, the plate 67 is provided with means indicated at 69 for applying a solvent or other sealant to the upper surface of the folded flap 58. As the package P continues its advance, a second folding plate 71 engages the opposite sideflap 57 and folds the latter on top of the flap a heater 72 which seals the flaps 57 and 58 together to, form the completely sealed package shown in Fig. 10.

In the foregoing description, it has been shown that each package is advanced to the wrapping machine from a continuous line, is inserted between the gripper arms 25- of' a rotary conveyor 13, at its first station, and is advanced to a second station where the side edge. portions 27 and 29 are folded over one another, the portion 27 being slit adjacent the tear-tape 47 and having solvent applied thereto. The package is then advanced to the third station where it is sealed alongthe side edge thereof and thento the fourth station where it is ejected from-the conveyor and advanced through a top and bottom folding mechanism which folds the flaps 55, 56, 57 and 58' and seals the same in, place at both the top and bottom ends of the package.

After a predeter- 58. The package then advances under While particular embodiments of the present invention have been herein illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention to such a disclosure, but changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a package wrapping machine having a rotary conveyor and a gripping means disposed radially thereon with its outer face open for receiving a package having a sheet of wrapping material disposed therearound with its marginal edge portions projecting radially outward beyond said package at opposite sides of the exposed face thereof, a backing plate disposed at a point along the path of travel of said conveyor radially to said conveyor adjacent the package contained thereon to underlie the outer face of one of said marginal edge portions, a rotary shaft spaced from said conveyor parallel to the rotary axis thereof, a folding plate rotatably mounted on said shaft actuatable into engagement with the other of said marginal edge portions to fold the same against said exposed face of said package, an arm mounted for rotation with said shaft having a wick rotatable with said arm into engagement with the inner face of said one marginal edge portion, a supply of sealing material connected to said wick for application to said inner face, knives on said backing plate disposed in closely spaced relation to intersect the outer edge of said one marginal edge portion, said wick being resiliently flexible to engage said wrapping material with the knives to slit the same, yieldable means interconnecting said arm with said folding plate to actuate the latter upon actuation of the former, stop means engageable with said conveyor to limit movement of said folding plate, and means to advance said conveyor past said backing plate after the actuation of said shaft to effect folding of said one edge portion over the other edge portion, the yieldable means being operable to cause the folding plate to follow the movement of the conveyor to retain the other edge portion against the exposed face of the package as the one edge portion is folded thereover by said backing plate.

2. In a package wrapping machine having a conveyor and a gripping means disposed normal thereto with its outer face open for receiving a package having a sheet of wrapping material disposed therearound with its marginal edge portions projecting normally outward beyond said package at opposite sides of the exposed face thereof, a backing plate disposed at a point along the path of travel of said conveyor normal to said conveyor and adjacent the package contained thereon to underlie the outer face of one of said marginal edge portions, a rotary shaft spaced from said conveyor, a folding plate rotatably mounted on said shaft actuatable into engagement with the other of said marginal edge portions to fold the same against said exposed face of said package, an arm mounted for rotation with said shaft having a sealantimpregnated wick rotatable with said arm into engagement with the inner face of said one marginal edge portion, knives on said backing plate disposed in closely spaced relation to intersect the outer edge of said one marginal portion, said wick being resiliently flexible to engage said wrapping material with the knives to slit the same, yieldable means interconnecting said arm with said folding plate to actuate the latter upon actuation of the former, and in advance thereof, stop means on said folding plate engageable with said conveyor to limit movement of said folding plate, and means to advance said conveyor past said backing plate after the actuation of said shaft to effect folding of said one edge portion over the other edge portion, the yieldable means being operable to cause the folding plate to follow movement of the conveyor to retain the other edge portion against the exposed face of the package as the one edge portion is folded thereover by said backing plate.

3. In a package wrapping machine having a conveyor and a gripping means disposed normal thereon with its outer face open for receiving a package having a sheet of wrapping material disposed therearound with its marginal edge portions projecting radially outward beyond said package at opposite sides of the exposed face thereof, a backing plate disposed at a point along the path of travel of said conveyor normal to said conveyor adjacent the package contained thereon to underlie the outer face of one of said marginal edge portions, a rotary shaft spaced from said conveyor, a folding plate rotatably mounted on said shaft actuatable into engagement with the other of said marginal edge portions to fold the same against said exposed face of said package, an arm mounted for rotation with said shaft having a resilient flexible member rotatable with said arm into engagement with the inner face of said one marginal edge portion, knives on said backing plate disposed in closely spaced relation to intersect the edge of said one marginal portion, said resiliently flexible means being operable to engage said wrapping material with the knives to slit the same, yieldable means interconnecting said arm with said folding plate to actuate the latter upon actuation of the former, and means to advance said conveyor past said backing plate after the actuation of said shaft to eifect folding of said one marginal edge portion over the other marginal edge portion.

4. In a package wrapping machine having a conveyor and a gripping means disposed normal thereto with its outer face open for receiving a package having a sheet of wrapping material disposed therearound with its marginal edge portions projecting radially outward beyond said package at opposite sides of the exposed face thereof, a backing plate disposed at a point along the path of travel of said conveyor normal to said conveyor adjacent the package contained thereon to underlie the outer face of one of said marginal edge portions, a rotary shaft spaced from said conveyor, a folding plate rotatably mounted on said shaft actuatable into engagement with the other of said marginal edge portions to fold the same against said exposed face of said package, an arm mounted for rotation with said shaft having a sealant-impregnated wick rotatable with said arm into engagement with the inner face of said one marginal edge portion, yieldable means interconnecting said arm with said folding plate to actuate the latter upon actuation of the former and in advance thereof, stop means on said folding plate to limit movement of said folding plate, and means to advance said conveyor past said backing plate after the actuation of said shaft to effect folding of said one edge portion over the other edge portion.

5. In a package wrapping machine, the sub-combination for sealing the marginal edge portions in overlapping relation comprising, means to convey the package in a given path past a preselected station, a backing plate disposed normal to said path at said station to engage substantially flush against one edge portion of the wrapper, an arm mounted for reciprocatory displacement in a predetermined path adjacent the given path at said station and having at its leading extremity a sealant-impregnated wick engageable upon forward displacement with said one edge portion disposed flush against the backing plate, a folding plate, means mounting said folding plate on said arm for movement relative thereto in said predetermined path, yieldable means interconnecting said folding plate with said arm to effect displacement of the former with the latter in advance thereof to engage and fold over the other said marginal edge portion of the wrapper, and means to fold said one edge portion over the other portion after engagement of the wick with the former.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 522,723 Stearns July 10, 1894 1,287,124 Smith Dec. 10, 1918 2,373,655 Bronander Apr. 17, 1945 2,443,952 Gilbert June 22, 1948 

